Pipet plugger



Aug. 12, 1969 E. F. ROECK PIPEI PLUGGER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 I INVENTOR. ER\CH F. ROECK' 5; M? 7/4 W ATFOEZNEVS E. F. ROECK PIPET PLUGGER Aug. 12, 1969 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR.

ERlCH F. ROECK ATFORNEQi wv mm mm 8% E. F. ROECK PIPET PLUGGER Aug. 12, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 22. 1965 INVENTOR. E C F. ROECK BY QM; ATFDRNEQQ E. F. ROECK PIPET PLUGGER Aug. 12, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 22, 1965 umul l INVENTOR. ERlCH F. ROECK 7M. A romEvs Aug. 12, 1969 E, F, ROECK I 3,460,315

PIPET PLUGGER Filgd Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ERJCH F'. ROE'CK K: BY im;

mrogausvs Uited ttes 3,460,315 PIPET PLUGGER Erich F. Roach, Perrysburg, Ohio, assignor to Owens-- Illinois, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,261 lint. Cl. 1365b 55/20, 61/20 US. Cl. 53-115 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a pipet plug-ger, that is, a device for inserting a length of cotton roving or the like in the end of a pipet or similar tube.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pipet plugger which is compact, eificient, safe to operate and which utilizes a single power source.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pipet plugger embodying the invention with the cover removed and the front wall swung downwardly.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pipet plugger shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the front wall in operating position.

FIG. 4 is a part sectional exploded view of the pipet plu-gger.

FIGS. 5-7 are fragmentary perspective views showing the relative positions of certain of the parts during the cutting, gripping and insertion of a length of roving in a pipet.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pipet plugger embodying the invention comrises a frame 16, a cover 11 shown in dotted lines and a front wall 12 that is pivoted to the frame and swings upwardly into position. A length L of cotton roving is directed downwardly through a guide tube 13 to a pair of feed rolls 14 that are operated intermittently to feed a length of the roving into position adjacent an opening 15 in a pivoted actuating plate 16. A pair of shear blades 17, 18 are adapted to sever a length of the roving and grip it adjacent the opening 15. An insertion needle 19 is reciprocated periodically to fold and insert the severed length of roving into the pipet through the opening 15.

In accordance with the invention, a cycle is initiated by insertion of the end of the pipet through a guide opening 20 in the front wall 12 and engagement of the end of the pipet with the tapered side 21 of the opening 15 in the actuating plate 16. Movement of the actuating plate, as presently described, initiates the cycle which comprises closing of the shear blades to shear and grip the roving, movement of the needle 19 to insert the length of roving, opening of the shear blades and rotation of the rolls to feed a successive length of roving into positon adjacent the opening.

Referring to FIG. 4, the insertion needle 19 is mounted on a carriage 25 that is reciprocated along ways 26, which are preferably made of plastic such as acetal resin. The shear blades 17, 18 are mounted on one end of arms 27, 28 which, in turn, are pivoted on a vertical shaft 29 on the frame. A spring 29a compressed between a washer 29b and arm 27 controls the cutting pressure on blades 17, 18. Cam follower rollers 34), 31 on arms 23, 27 engage cam 3,466,315 Patented Aug. 12, 196% grooves 33, 34, respectively, in the carriage 25. Upon movement of the carriage 25 toward the opening 15 the blades are closed to sever and grip a new length of roving, and upon movement of the carriage rearwardly the blades 17, 18 are opened.

As further shown in FIGS. 5-7, gripping jaws 35, 36 are provided on the underside of the arms 27, 28 and grip the length of roving after it is severed. A V-shaped tapered guide 37 on the arm 28 prevents the upper end of the roving from being folded downwardly after severing and maintains it in position for proper insertion.

An adjustable connecting rod 40 is pivoted by a ball joint at its one end to the carriage 25 and as best viewed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 by a ball joint at its other end to an actuating arm 41 on an output shaft 42 of a one-way clutch 43 that is mounted in the frame. The input shaft of the clutch is driven by a gear 44 that meshes with another gear 45 of a speed reducer 46 driven by an electric motor 47.

The operation of the one-way clutch 43 is controlled by an arm 48 that is pivoted to the frame at 49 and has a notch 50 therein which engages a pin 51 on the clutch (FIG. 2). An extension 52 is fixed to the shaft 49 and a a coil spring 53 extends between the extension 52 and a fixed screw 54 on the frame. This yieldingly urges the arm 48 radially inwardly to cause the notch 56 to engage the pin 51. When the arm 43 is swung away, the clutch 43 is permitted to rotate.

Referring to FIG. 4, an actuating bracket 55 is mounted on the lower end of the actuating plate 16 and when the actuating plate 16 is swung to the right by engagement of the pipet therewith, the actuating bracket 55 engages a release rod 56 that is slidably mounted in the frame and causes the other end of the release rod 56 to swing the arm 52 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 and thereby move the actuating lever 48 out of the path of the pin 51 permitting the clutch to rotate. This causes the actuating lever 41 to move the carriage 25 and, in turn, the insertion needle 19 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

During the first portion of the forward stroke of carriage 25, the cam follower rollers 31}, 31 move out of the closely adjacent portions of cam grooves 33, 34 and thereby cause the shear blades to move toward one another to shear a new length of roving and, in turn, to cause the jaws 35, 36 to grip the new length. The insertion needle 19 then moves into position to engage the length of roving that is being gripped by the jaws 35, 36 and fold the length and insert it in the end of the pipet. As shown in FIG. 3, the end of the insertion needle is flattened to facilitate the insertion.

Upon the return stroke of the carriage 25, the needle is withdrawn and the shear blades are opened. Continued rearward motion causes the feed rolls 14 to be operated to feed a new length of roving downwardly. As shown in FIG. 3 a timing wheel 60 is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis on the frame. Referring now to FIG. 4, the shaft 61 on the timing wheel through bevel gears 62, 63 drives a shaft 64 on which one feed roll 14 is fixed. Shaft 64, in turn, rotates a gear 65 and a meshing gear 66 on the shaft of the adjacent feed roll 14.

The timing wheel 60 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins 67. A timing lever 68 is pivoted to a bracket 69 on the side of the carriage 25 and is counterbalanced so that normally, as best seen in FIG. 3, its upper end 70 extends upwardly and the lower end '71 engages a stop 72 on the bracket 69. When the carriage moves forwardly, the timing lever 68 is pivoted clockwise past the pin 67 in its path. However, on the return stroke of the carriage 25, the upper end '70 of the timing lever 68 engages one of the pins 67 and thereby rotates the timing wheel 60. In this manner, the feed rolls 14 are rotated on the return stroke of the carriage 25- to feed a predetermined length of roving. A spring loaded detent 73 engages one of a plurality of notches 74 in the periphery of the timing wheel 6% to hold the timing wheel 60 in its newly adjusted position. A cam 77 engages timing lever 68 on the forward stroke and insures that it is in position to engage a pin 67 on the timing wheel 66. After the roving has been inserted in the end of the pipet, the pipet is removed and the actuating plate 16 returns to its original position under the action of release rod 56 and spring 53. This permits the clutch lever arm 48 to move inwardly and thereby interrupt the rotation of the clutch to stop the movement of the carriage 25.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front wall 12 includes a latch hook 75 which engages a latch spring 76 on the frame to lock the front wall in operating position. A safety switch 78 is provided in position to be actuated when the front wall is swung downwardly to prevent energization of the motor 47 if the front wall is not in operating or vertical position.

In operation, cotton roving or the like is inserted through guide tube 13 adjacent the feed rolls 14. The front wall 12 is pivoted upwardly and the motor 47 is energized by actuating a switch (not shown). The motor 47 operates continuously. When a length of roving is to be inserted into a pipet, the end of the pipet P (FIG. 4) is inserted through opening 2t? and engages the tapered surface 21 of the actuating plate 16. Further movement of the pipet inwardly swings the actuating plate 16 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 to move the release rod 56 to the right (FIGS. 2, 4) and thereby swing arm 48 away from pin 51 to release the clutch 43. When the clutch 43 is released, a driving connection is completed between the motor and the output shaft of the clutch 43 to swing the actuating arm 41 and move the carriage 25 forward toward the opening 15. As the carriage 25 moves forwardly, the cam followers 3t), 31 move into the spaced rearward portions of the grooves 33, 34 bringing the shear blades 17, 18 and, in turn, the jaws 35, 36 toward one another to sever and grip a length of roving. Continued movement of the carriage 25 toward the opening brings the needle 19 into engagement with the roving and folds the roving, pulls the roving from between the jaws 35, 36 and inserts the folded roving into the end of the pipet P through the opening 15. As the carriage reaches the end of its movement toward opening 15, the cam 77 engages timing lever 68 to insure that it is in upright position.

As the actuating arm 41 continues to swing, the carriage is retracted. During this return movement the cam follower rollers 36, 31 move into the closely adjacent portions of the grooves 33, 34 to swing the shear blades 17, 18 and the jaws 35, 36 outwardly. In addition, continued movement of the carriage rearwardly causes the timing lever 63 to engage one of the pins 67 to 1'0- tate the timing wheel and, in turn, the feed rolls 14 to feed a new length of roving into position for a succeeding cycle.

The length of the roving having been inserted in the pipet P, the operator removes the pipet P from position adjacent the actuating plate 16 so that the spring 53 moves the arm 48 inwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, into position to be engaged by the pin 51 when the clutch completes its single revolution upon return of the carriage 25 to its original position. At this point, the apparatus is in position for a succeeding cycle with a length of roving having been adjacent the opening 15 in the actuating plate 16.

I claim:

1. In a pipet plugger or the like, the combination combination comprising means for feeding a cotton roving or the like downwardly,

a plate mounted adjacent said roving,

said plate having an opening therein adjacent which the end of a pipet is adapted to be positioned,

shear blades mounted adjacent said opening,

means for operating said shear blades to sever a length of roving,

means operable by said shear blades for gripping said severed length of roving,

an insertion needle,

means for reciprocating said insertion needle to remove from the gripping means, fold and insert a severed length of roving into the end of a pipet positioned adjacent the opening in said plate,

and means for operating said aforementioned elements in timed relation such that said shears are first operated to sever a length of roving and cause said means to grip said length of roving, said needle is thereafter operated to fold and insert said severed length of roving into the pipet, said needle is retracted, said shears are opened and said roving feeding means are operated to feed another length of roving into position for a successive cycle.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate is movable,

and means responsive to the positioning of a pipet at the opening and the movement of said plate to initiate a cycle of said operating means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a wall exteriorly of said movable plate,

said wall having a guide opening therein aligned with the opening in said first mentioned plate.

4. In a pipet plugger or the like, the combination comprising means for feeding a cotton roving or the like downwardly,

an actuating plate mounted for movement adjacent said roving,

said plate having an opening therein,

means forming a guide opening adjacent said opening in said plate,

shear blades mounted adjacent said opening,

means for operating said shear blades to sever a length of roving,

means operable by said shear blades for gripping said severed length of roving,

an insertion needle,

means for reciprocating said insertion needle to remove from the gripping means, fold and insert a severed length of roving into the end of a pipet positioned adjacent the opening in said actuating plate.

and means responsive to the positioning of a pipet for operating said aforementioned elements in timed relation such that said shear are first operated to sever a length of roving and cause said means to grip said length of roving, said needle is thereafter operated to fold and insert said severed length of roving into the pipet, said needle is retracted, said shears are opened and said roving feeding means are operated to feed another length of roving into position for a successive cycle.

5. In a pipet plugger and the like, the combination comprising a frame,

a pair of feed rolls mounted on said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes for feeding a length of roving downwardly,

a carriage,

means for guiding said carriage on said frame for movement generally horizontally,

a needle on said carriage,

a plate on said frame having an opening therein adjacent which the end of a pipet is positioned,

said opening being aligned with the axis of movement of said needle on said carriage,

a pair of shear blades pivoted above a vertical axis on said frame,

cam means interconnecting said carriage and said arms for pivoting said arms and operating said blades as the carriage is reciprocated,

gripping jaws on said blades operable upon the severing of a length of roving to grip the length of roving adjacent said opening,

and means on said frame operable intermittently by movement of said carriage to rotate said feed rolls.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said shear blades are mounted on one end of arms pivoted intermediate their ends about a common axis,

said interconnecting carn means comprising cam engaging means on the other ends of said arms,

said carriage having cam surfaces thereon engaged by said cam engaging means for pivoting said jaws in such a fashion that when the carriage is moved toward said opening, said jaws are closed and when said carriage is moved away from said opening, said jaws and said shear blades are opened.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said plate is pivoted about a generally horizontal axis,

and means operable by movement of said plate to initiate a cycle of movement of said parts.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 including a clutch,

said clutch being operable upon movement of said plate to initiate said cycle of movements.

9. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said means operable by said carriage to periodically rotate said rolls includes a timing wheel,

said timing wheel having a plurality of circumferen tially spaced pins thereon,

said carriage having a pivoted actuating lever thereon operable to bypass said pins on the forward movement of said carriage toward said opening and to engage one of said pins on the return movement of said carriage to thereby rotate said timing wheel,

and means interconnecting said timing Wheel and said rolls.

10. The combination set forth in claim 5 including electric motor means for reciprocating said carriage.

11. In a pipet plugger and the like, the combination comprising a frame,

a pair of feed rolls mounted for rotation about generally horizontal axes on said rolls for feeding a length of roving downwardly,

a carriage,

means for guiding said carriage in said frame for movement generally horizontally,

a needle on said carriage,

a plate on said frame having an opening therein adjacent which the end of a pipet is positioned,

said opening being aligned with the axis of movement of said needle on said carriage,

a pair of shear blades pivoted to said frame,

cam means interconnecting said carriage and said blades for operating said blades as the carriage is reciprocated such that said blades are closed as the carriage moves toward said opening and opened as the carriage moves away from the opening,

gripping jaws on said blades operable upon the severing of a length of roving to grip the length of roving adjacent said opening,

power means,

clutch means operable to reciprocate said carriage,

and means operable intermittently upon the movement of said carriage away from the opening to rotate said feed rolls.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said shear blades are mounted on one end of arms pivoted about a common axis,

said cam means interconnecting said blades and said carriage comprising cam engaging means on the other ends of said arms,

said carriage having cam surfaces thereon engaged by said engaging means for pivoting said jaws in such a fashion that when the carriage is moved toward said opening, said jaws and shear blades are closed and when said carriage is moved away from said opening, said jaws and said shear blades are opened.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said plate is pivoted about a generally horizontal axis,

and means operable by movement of said plate to actuate said clutch and initiate a cycle of movement of said parts.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a rod extending between said plate and said clutch.

15. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said means operable to periodically rotate said rolls includes a timing wheel,

said timing wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins thereon,

said carriage having a pivoted timing lever thereon operable to bypass said pins on the forward movement of said carriage toward said opening and to engage one of said pins on the return movement of said pins to thereby rotate said timing wheel,

and means interconnecting said timing Wheel and said rolls.

16. In a pipet plugger and the like, the combination comprising a frame,

a pair of feed rolls mounted for rotation about generally horizontal axes on said rolls for feeding a length of roving downwardly,

a carriage,

means for guiding said carriage in said frame for movement generally horizontally,

a needle on said carriage,

a plate on said frame having an opening therein adjacent which the end of a pipet is positioned, said opening being aligned with the axis of movement of said needle on said carriage,

a pair of shear blades pivoted to said frame,

means interconnecting said carriage and said blades for operating said blades as the carriage is reciprocated,

gripping jaws on said blades operable upon the severing of a length of roving to grip the length of roving adjacent said opening,

means operable intermittently upon movement of said carriage to rotate said feed rolls,

and means for operating said aforementioned elements in timed relation such that said shears are first Operated to sever and grip a length of roving, said needle is thereafter moved to fold and insert said severed length of roving into a pipet, said needle is retracted, said shears are opened and said feed rolls are operated to feed another length of roving into position for a successive cycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,895,275 7/1959 Hollis 53115 X 3,157,012 11/1964 Shellman et al. 53-115 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner 

